Inside Iran (3/24/09)

Robert Baer, Former CIA Operative; Author, Sleeping with the Devil, See No Evil and The Devil We Know: Dealing with the New Iranian SuperpowerJonathan Curiel, Journalist, San Francisco Chronicle; Author, Al’ America: Travels through America’s Arab and Islamic Roots - Moderator

Meet the inspiration behind George Clooney’s character in Syriana. After spending 25 years as a CIA operative in the Middle East, Baer believes America needs to negotiate directly with Iran. He contends that American foreign policy has kicked Iran down the road for 30 years, and the time has come to open dialogue with the burgeoning regional power. Considered a leading expert on the Middle East, Baer visited Iran to interview suicide bombers, a grand ayatollah, the hard-line chief of staff of Iran’s military forces and the terrorist chief of Hezbollah. Find out why Baer maintains that America’s hopes in the Gulf lie in peaceful collaboration or even alliance with the fastest growing power in the Middle East.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on March 24, 2009.